PT Veterans Services Assistant - Otsego County, MI : Job Details

Salary: $17.27 Hourly Location : 225 W. Main St. Gaylord, MI Job Type: Part Time Regular Job Number: 00106 Department: Housing/Veterans Affairs Opening Date: 11/27/2024 Description Under the supervision of the Otsego County Veterans Affairs Counselor/Veteran Service Officer (VSO), will assist by providing information for Otsego County Veterans and their dependents in obtaining Veteran Affairs benefits and through federal, state and local agencies. Prepare and submit claims, appeals and benefits per federal and state statues on behalf of Veterans and their dependents to the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and various Veteran organizations. Examples of Duties An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all of the duties, which the employee may be expected to perform. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

Assist veterans in completing Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare enrollment forms, obtaining their DD214 military discharge and service medical records and medals.

Assists in ordering VA furnished headstones, grave markers, and flags.

Interviews veterans and/or their dependents to determine eligibility for benefits and services in the office and on-site event locations in Otsego County. Ability to lift and transfer office equipment and setup at various event locations each month.

Assists veterans and/or their dependents in completing and filing VA application claims for non-service connected pension, service connected compensation, death pension, dependency and indemnity compensation, medical care, loans, death benefits, insurance and education benefits. May assist in Department of Defense claims, survivor benefits and referrals.

Create and maintain various word and excel spreadsheets and collect data for reporting purposes.

Performs other duties as directed.

Typical Qualifications The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job.

• High School Diploma and substantial college course work in sociology, psychology, business administration or closely related field. At least one year of full time work experience in the field of counseling or social work.

• Service in the United States Armed Forces with an honorable discharge from the most recent period of service and successful completion of a United States Department of Veterans Affairs approved National VSO accreditation training program preferred.

• The county, at its discretion, may consider an alternative combination of formal education and work experience.

• Ability to display compassion, empathy, stability and patience while dealing with distressed individuals. Cope with difficult and/or emergency situations requiring immediate decisions.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, administrators, department heads, county employees, professional contacts and the general public.

• Ability to prepare comprehensive claim statements and communication skills, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to understand and interpret detailed medical records.

• Knowledge and comprehension of laws, rules and regulations regarding veteran's benefits.

• Considerable typing skill in the use of office equipment and technology, including Microsoft Office applications, Excel, Adobe, county, federal applications and state grants.

• Excellent organization and efficiency skills in assembling and analyzing data, preparing comprehensive statements and accurate reports.

• As a condition of employment, an employee in this classification must attend and continue a United States Department of Veterans Affairs approved national and or state Veteran Service Officer accreditation courses, the TRIPP training program, receive accreditation certificate, and apply for cross accreditation with veteran service organizations. Continuation of attendance of yearly Veterans Service Officers national and state conferences of accreditation trainings per required unit of credit hours by traveling and attending required Veteran conferences and meetings. This position requires The Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct federal finger printing, back ground and security verifications.

• Must be able to complete and pass all Otsego County pre-employment requirements, including but not limited to: Otsego County employment application, oral interview, reference check, background check, drug screening and employment physical.

• Michigan Vehicle Operator's License.

• Maintains high standards of confidentiality of all client records and information.

Supplemental Information The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate in person and by telephone, read regular and small print, view and produce written and electronic documents, and enter data on a computer keyboard with repetitive keystrokes. The employee must be mobile in an office setting, stand, sit, stoop and kneel, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must lift or push/pull objects of up to 15 lbs. without assistance. Accommodation will be made, as needed, for office employees required to lift or move objects that exceed this weight. The typical work environment of this job is a business office setting where the noise level is quiet and sometimes moderate. Benefit Summary Part Time Regular 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan A 457(b) deferred compensation plan is a retirement plan offered by the County, created to allow public employees like you to put aside money from each paycheck toward retirement. We also offer Roth 457(b) accounts within the 457(b) plan. Holidays New Year's Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Veteran's Day President's Day Thanksgiving Day Good Friday Day after Thanksgiving Day Memorial Day Christmas Eve Day Independence Day Christmas Day New Year's Eve Day 1 Floating holiday: may be used anytime during the calendar year. A part-time employee must be regularly scheduled to work on the recognized holiday to be eligible for pro-rated holiday pay. Personal Time Every January, all regular full-time and regular part-time employees (on a pro-rated basis) will be credited with personal hours. Employees that work 40 hours per week will be credited with 56 personal leave hours. There is no accumulation, carry over, or payout of personal leave hours. Vacation Time Each regular full-time and regular part-time employee shall earn, on a pro-rated basis, vacation time as follows: From start date up to and including 5 years of service 10 Days From 6 years and up to and including 10 years of service 15 Days From 11 years of service and up 20 Days Vacation time will be credited to the employee's bank on a bi-weekly basis. Employees can only have up to their base vacation accrued in their vacation bank at any one time and they may not use more than what is currently in their vacation bank. Wellness Regular full-time and part-time employees have access to our on-site wellness room and access to our County membership at Powerhouse Gym. EAP Program We recognize that our employees are our most valuable asset and that an investment in your well-being is a sound investment for everyone. We understand that each of us will be faced with a personal problem in our lives. Such common difficulties may or may not impact our work lives, but will certainly affect the satisfaction in our lives. Most personal concerns can be resolved, or their effects minimized, through appropriate assistance. A counselor helps people work through concerns much like a coach helps an athlete improve through supportive, objective feedback and suggestions. The Life Advisor Employee Assistance Program is a completely confidential, short-term counseling service, utilizing a practical approach toward problem resolution. Sometimes we are so close to a problem that it becomes hard to look at it, and therefore, we may have a difficult time identifying the solutions. Professional assistance can make the difference between a problem repeating itself, and resolving it for good the first time it occurs. *This is intended as an easy-to-read summary only. It is not a contract.